Detachable ladder step



July 19, 1960 P. LQGAGNON 2,945,549

DETACHABLE LADDER STEP Filed Dec. 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 F l I II/I 0001- Paul L.Gugnon INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS July 19, 1960 P. L. GAGNON 2,945,549

DETACHABLE LADDER STEP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1958 FIG/IO Po.u\ L.Gognon F l G .5 INVENTOR.

7 ATTORNEYS .J MMW Patented July 19, 1 959 ic ,d

2,945,549 DETACHABLE LADDER STEP Paul L. Gagnon, 24 Harrington Terrace, West Orange, NJ.

Filed Dec. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 777,401 1 Claim. (Cl. 182-120) This invention relates to a temporary ladder rung suitable for replacing missing rungs of metal ladders.

The replacement of missingrungs of metal ladders, for example, giving access to cargo holds of merchantvessels presents .a serious problem with respect to the time re quired since the length of stay of such vessels in port is often substantially coextensive with the length of time required for loading and/or unloading. Welding a new rung into place is often not an available replacement means because of the fire hazard involved where the cargo hold is partially filled. Drilling holes in the metal ladder frames for bolting a new rung into place is time consuming and loading or unloading operations must be suspended during the replacement operation.

I have now devised a temporary ladder rung suitable for replacing missing rungs of metal ladders which can be attached in a matter of a few minutes. The temporary ladder rung of my invention has the especial advantage of being capable of replacing a missing rung by attachment to either the next adjacent upper or lower existing rung so that two of my temporary ladder rungs can be used to replace two adjacent missing rungs. Also the temporary ladder rung can be used to replace the uppermost rung.

The temporary ladder rung suitable for replacing missing rungs of metal ladders according to my invention comprises a metal rung and two laterally spaced hanger arms each substantially perpendicular to the metal rung and each rigidly connected to the metal rung, the assembly of metal rung and hanger arms being sized for reception between the frames of a ladder. A frame-abutting extension is rigidly connected to each hanger arm at a location adjacent to the metal rung and clamping means are provided in connection with each hanger arm at a location adjacent to the metal rung for securing the metal runghanger arm assembly to the ladder frames. At the extremity of each hanger arm is a rigid hooked shaped member adapted for enclosing an existing ladder rung, the rigid hook shaped member having bearing surfaces positioned to contact upper and lower surfaces of the existing rung when the rigid hook shaped member encloses the existing rung and when the hanger arms are in vertical alignment with the ladder frames. Connected with the extremity of the rigid hook shaped member of each hanger arm are movable means providing an additional bearing surface for contact with the existing rung and for maintaining the existing rung in contact with the bearing surfaces of the rigid hook shaped member.

Specific embodiments of the temporary ladder rung of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: 1

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the temporary ladder rung in position with respect to a ladder frame containing an existing rung and from which a rung is missing;

Figure 2 is a side elevation taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view taken along line 4-4 ure 2; v a

Figure 5 is a plan view of means for affixing the hanger arm to a rectangular ladder frame;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of means for aflixing the hanger arm to a ladder frame having the shape of an angle iron;

Figure 7 is a plan view of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the hooked shaped member enclosing a round existing ladder rung;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the hooked shaped member enclosing a diamond shaped existing ladder rung; and

Figure 10 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the hooked shaped member.

Figure 1 of the drawings indicates the simplestform a Figof the temporary ladder rung of my invention. In Figure 1, metal rung 1 is welded or otherwise rigidly connected with hanger arms 2 and .3. For example, hanger arms 2 and 3 can have threaded holes sized to receive rung 1 threaded at each end, so that hanger arms 2 and 3 can be laterally extended to fit various size ladder frames. Hanger arms 2 and 3 include frame abutting extensions 4 and 5 as an integral part thereof and contain threaded holes 6, 7, 8 and 9 equipped with bolts 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively. Hanger arms 2 and 3 have hook shaped members 14 and 15 respectively as an integral part thereof and hook shaped members 14 and 15 have bearing surfaces 16, 17, 18 and 19. At the extremities of hook shaped members 14 and 15 are threaded holes 20 and 21 equipped with bolts 22 and 23 respectively, the ends of which provide bearing surfaces 24 and 25 respectively.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1 is especially suitable for use in conjunction with existing ladder frames as shown in that figure wherein the numeral 26 designates the ladder frame, numeral 27 designates a protrusion (bulb) ,along the front of the frame and numeral 28 indicates an existing rung. This type of ladder frame is common on hatch ladders leading to cargo holds of merchant vessels of United States construction.

As shown in Figure l, hooked shaped members 14 and 15 enclose existing rung 28 attached to ladder frame 26. Bolt 22, in place, as is shown in Figure 2 (taken along line 2-2 of Figure l) and in Figure 3 (taken along line 33 of Figure 2) provides bearing surface 24 in contact with existing rung 28 which with the other bearing surfaces, holds the upper part of the assembly in place. Also, bolt 11, in place, bearing on protrusion 27 together with frame abutting extension 4, hold the lower part of the assembly in place. This is illustrated in Figuge 4, which is taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

When there are two adjacent missing rungs in the ladder, for example, one of the temporary rungs of my invention can be attached to the next upper adjacent existing rung by means of hooked members 14 and 15, bolts 22 and 23, and bolts 11 and 13, bolts 10 and 12 beaing removed, and another temporary rung can be attached to the next lower adjacent existing rung upside down by means of hooked members 14 and 15, bolts 22 and 23, and bolts 10 and 12, bolts 11 and 13 being removed.

Where the ladder frame has no protrusion 27 on one ladder frame 26, other clamping means, can be provided.

For example, hanger arm 2 of Figure 1 can be alternatively constructed with slotted extension 29 having slot 30 (shown in dashed lines). Thus in Figure 5, the ladder frame 31 is rectangular in shape, and an adaptor 32 is provided which, in connection with bolt 33 and nut 34 and frame abutting extension 4, rigidly clamps the temporary metal rung assembly to the ladder frame. Also in Figure 6, the ladder frame 35 has the shape of an angle iron, and a U shaped adaptor 36 is provided which,

in connection with bolt 37 and nut 38 and turn-buckle assembly 39, and frame abutting extension 4, rigidly clamps the temporary metal rung assembly to the ladder frame. This is illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 8 illustrates hooked shaped member 14 enclosing a round existing ladder rung 40 and Figure 9 illustrates hooked shaped member 14 enclosing a diamond shaped existing ladder rung 41.

Figure '10 illustrates another embodiment of the hooked shaped member at the extremity of the hanger arm. In this embodiment, the hanger arm is designated '42, the hooked shaped member, 43, and the existing ladder rung 44. Bolt 45 having groove '46 inserted through cam 47 having extension 48, when turned, provides bearing surface 49 to contact existing rung 44 and force it against the other bearing surfaces. Nut 51 holds bolt 45 in place.

The claim:

A temporary ladder rung suitable for replacing missing rungs of metal ladders which comprises a metal rung, two laterally spaced hanger arms each substantially perpendicular to the metal rung and each rigidly connected to the metal rung, the assembly of metal rung and hanger arms being sized for reception between the frames of a ladder, a frame-abutting extension rigidly connected to each hanger arm at a location adjacent to the metal rung, clamping means in connection with each hanger arm at a location adjacent to the metal rung for securing the metal rung-hanger arm assembly to the ladder frames, a rigid hook shaped member at the extremity of each hanger arm adapted for enclosing an existing ladder rung, said rigid hook shaped member having bearing surfaces positioned to contact upper and lower surfaces of the existing rung when the rigid hook shaped member encloses the existing rung and when the hanger arms are in vertical alignment with the ladder frames and movable means in connection with the extremity of the rigid hook shaped member providing an additional bearing surface for contact with the existing rung and for maintaining the existing rung in contact with bearing surfaces of the rigid hook shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,352,914 Plasclascovite Sept. 14, 1920 1,478,941 Comeau Dec. 25, 1923 2,876,047 La Plante Mar. 3, 1959 

